Dublin South City Circuit.
Report from the Methodist Conference  5th - 7th June 2025.
Theme: "Compelled"


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To the members of Conference,
The President reminded us at the beginning of the Conference that we are charged with the ‘spiritual and temporal leadership of the church’. My first words are ‘thank you’ for the way in which we as Conference discharged that responsibility. It was a good Conference, and I am grateful for the sense of God’s presence, the ways in which the Holy Spirit guided us, and the gracious way in which we conferred together.  One of our ecumenical guests commented “A Conference yes, but with a difference! Business is seen to, but in a spiritual atmosphere – Jesus in our midst (Mt 18:20) - that pervades everything and not just during prayers and Bible readings”. And we are thankful to God.

Compelled
As Irish Methodists we hold to the vision statement that we are to ‘live wholeheartedly as followers of Jesus for the transformation of the world’. For the last three years we have journeyed with this statement and taken to heart the significance of the words it contains. This year we want to respond to what God might be asking of us as we live wholeheartedly. Conference heard and responded warmly to the Connexional theme ‘Compelled’ and heard the challenge to be ambassadors of Christ, who compelled by his love, are therefore compelled to share his love.
 
The President and the Lay Leader will be focussing on this theme as they travel this year. Resources for your church are already available and will be added to during the year, on the ‘Living Wholeheartedly’ section of the website.
 
Running throughout the Conference we heard stories of growth and green shoots as the Holy Spirit works among and through us. God is at work, and we are committed to growth and during Conference commissioned Rev Dr Stephen Skuce as our Growing Churches Officer.
 
Comprehensive Assessment
 
Conference agreed a new method of calculating Comprehensive Assessment. An online information evening is being planned for the late Autumn so that all societies and Circuits can understand how their Comprehensive Assessment is now calculated.
 
Property
 
Conference agreed changes to the Manual of Laws which were necessary because of the new processes which we agreed in 2024. Our processes with regard to Property are now Appendix 13. An Information Session on the Property Process policy will be held on Thursday 4^th September. Two online sessions are available: 2.00-3.30pm & 7.30-9.00pm. Representatives from Circuits and Societies are invited to attend one of these sessions. Registration details will be circulated by email in due course.
 
Jubilee Fund
 
Further details about the Jubilee Fund will be circulated after the Connexional Team meets next week. At this stage simply a reminder that this is a Fund which will be in place for one year (2026), through which Circuits and Societies can apply for a grant of up to half of their Comprehensive Assessment to fund a new, growth focussed initiative. Applications will be considered in early October and December 2025 so start thinking now about how you might avail of this opportunity.
 
World Development and Relief
 
The link to the research which WDR presented to us is here.
 
Pensions
 
Conference agreed that the Governance Board, in consultation with the Trustees of the Pension Fund, should explore the closure of the Ministerial Pension Fund and the opening of a new defined contribution scheme. Consultations for ministers are in the process of being arranged for the Autumn.
 
Designations
 
Conference designated Rev Dr Janet M Unsworth as President designate, and Ms Laura Griffith as Lay Leader designate. Rev Philip Corrigan was designated as District Superintendent of the North Western District. During this Connexional year, Rev Dr Stephen Skuce will act as DS for that District over the Summer and as Stationer throughout the year, and the President will be Acting DS from September to June, supported by the other DSs and myself.
 
As you know this is only a taste of the work which we did. We were blessed by the Installation Service and the Ordination Service, discussed Memorials, particularly significantly one on Gaza, we heard updates from CSR, Faith and Order, World Mission Partnership and IMYC among many others. As I listened, I found myself thankful to God for the work which is going on in and through this part of God’s Church.
 
Each evening, as we finished our work, we prayed, that we might be captivated by Christ’s love and compelled and restless to make God known. May it be so.